We are told that some of our political leaders ‘have no moral compass.’
A recent example was when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had to be dragged by the US President into giving political asylum to members of the Iranian Women’s Football team (who faced possible death if they returned to their Ayatollah ruled homeland).
This should, of course, be a no brainer—no one wants young women who choose not to sing their nation’s anthem to face arrest, imprisonment and possible execution at the hands of a murderous regime.
Everyone’s ‘moral compass’ says that is wrong, and the young women should be saved.
The expression ‘moral compass’ is recorded in English from 1817.
It was coined in French in 1779 and translated into our language 38 years later.
‘Moral compass’ means ‘a guide to making a morally informed choice’ (Oxford).
It is, of course, a metaphor that uses that navigational instrument which faithfully points to magnetic north as an image of clearly and faithfully pointing towards ‘good’ and ‘evil’, ‘right’ and ‘wrong.’
People who are vague about these things ‘have no moral compass.’
C. S. Lewis in a prescient book called The Abolition of Man demonstrated that the points of the ‘moral compass’ (good and evil, right and wrong) are objective facts—are just as much part of reality as the laws of thermodynamics.
These moral realities are facts we are supposed know as moral beings.
Lewis argues that humanity dies when people pretend that right and wrong, good and evil are just subjective expressions of emotion, or the opinions of society.
Lewis demonstrates that all great cultures in history have had much the same ‘moral compass’ approving (or disapproving) of much the same things.
He calls this the Great Tradition.
However, Western civilisation has the clearest, most precise ‘moral compass’ because of its foundation in the Judeo-Christian worldview.
This concept of objective moral value is what Thomas Acquinas called ‘natural law.’
Some might just call it wisdom.
We can call it a ‘moral compass.’
There you are—a whole book of profound philosophy summarised in a few sentences.
(All part of the service!)
Sadly, when our leaders seem to have no moral compass, we are (as a nation) in serious trouble.
Tonight I'll join John Stanley on 2GB, 4BC, 2CC and the Nine Radio network for 'The Word Clinic' (from 10pm, 9pm in Queensland). This is your chance to chat to me on the talkback or text a question or comment.
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